Obituary - Joseph E. Davis

Joseph E. Davis, 72, passed away of natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on March 21, 2016.

Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of Joe's life will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at the Havre Eagles Club.

Joe's family has requested that memorials be made in his name to Walleyes Unlimited, 1260 Road 425 S, Havre, MT 59501, or to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek, Missoula, MT 59808.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Joe's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Joe was born on March 20, 1944, in Havre, Montana, the youngest of seven children born to William John and Grace Elizabeth (Edwards) Davis. He was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre High School in 1962.

Joe began working for the railroad as a machinist apprentice.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam for four years.

Upon his discharge, he returned to Havre, and returned to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway as a conductor, where he was given the nickname "Smoking Joe."

He married Millie Biela in 1971 in Havre, and the couple raised their family of three beautiful girls in Havre. They later divorced.

Joe was forced to retire in 2000 due to medical issues with his knees.

He loved to fish, hunt and play cards and enjoyed bar stool races. His sense of humor was legendary, and he loved to tease his friends and family.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, William and Grace Davis; his brothers Robert and Walter Davis; and his sister Dolores "Dodie" Laughnan.

He is survived by his girls, Heather Davis of Missoula, Montana, Anya (Christopher) McCabe of Chicago and Erinn (Matthew) White of Missoula, Montana; his six grandchildren, Tyler and Erik Harrison of Havre, Shaelei Row of Missoula, Ava and Isla McCabe of Chicago and Vivian White of Missoula; his two sisters Mary Donahue of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Janet Porter of Bremerton, Washington; and his brother William J. Davis of Sunset Mesa, California.